Ink-well.



in/6077M. 0

Awe/we s.

PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

J. H. RIDDIGK. JR. INK WELL APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24,1904.

1 1 fim I r x l I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. RIDDICK, JR., OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOWILLIAM C. SCHMIDT, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

INK-WELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed October 24, 1904:. Serial No. 229,698.

To (LZZ wit/mt it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. RIDDIoK, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInk-Wells, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to an improved inkwell for desk use.

The object of the invention is to provide a closed ink-reservoir ofrelatively large size in order to contain a supply of ink that will bekept from evaporation and becoming thick and muddy and obviate thenecessity of frequent replenishing, a pen-dip chamber for the exposureof a small quantity of ink and connected with said large reservoir, andan atmospheric inlet to maintain a balance or equilibrium ofair-pressure, so as to automatically keep the ink in the pen-dip chamherat a constant height.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the improved ink-well.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same.

The reservoir A may be of any preferred sha e and size. It is deemedpreferable to ma e this of glass. A pen-dip chamber B for the exposureof a small quantity of ink is attached to the side of the reservoir atits base and is in communication with said reservoir by the passage 0.The particular shape of this pen-di chamber is immaterial. It must havea suita le opening (1 for the insertion of a pen-point, and when in usethe ink standing in this opening is the only ink that is directlyexposed to the atmosphere.

A suitable cap or cover 6 closes over the pen-dip opening (I. In thepresent instance this cap is attached by a hingefto a collar or band g,which surrounds the top of the small chamber B. This hinge permits thecap to rest in the closed position or when open to be turned up to astanding position against the front side of the reservoir. The cap isprovided with an elastic pad 6', which will fit closely down around thepen-dip opening.

The reservoir A has at its top a mouth h, through which the ink maybefilled, and a screw-cap i is arranged to close this mouth air-tight.The cap has a disk washer j, of

elastic material, which insures an air-tight closure. An air-inletpassage-tube It opens through the top of the reservoir and extendstherefrom downward, and its lower end It opens Within the reservoir on alevel with the top of said pen-dip opening (1 in the small chamber. Theinner caliber or capacity of the tube it should be large enough toprevent being easily stopped by any incrustation of ink; but the openingk at the upper end of the tube is very small, only that of a pinpoint,while the o ening at the lower end is relatively larger, being the sizeof the full caliber of the tube. This difference in the size of the twoopenings of the tube, the upper one being smaller, prevents anyagitation of the ink in the reservoir when moving or handling theink-well. If the tube becomes incrusted, it can be removed for cleaningand then restored to position. The construction whereby this air-inletpassage or tube is attached to the reservoir A is immaterial. In thepresent instance its upper end is tightly fixed in a disk or plug Z, ofsuitable material, such as vulcanized rubber. The small opening k in thetube is exposed at the upper side of the said plug. The disk or plugfits in and tightly closes a hole m in the top of the reservoir, and thetube hangs pendent therefrom down inside the reservoir, and its loweropen end is is normally sealed by ink.

The horizontal broken line a across the reservoir A near its topindicates, for the purpose of explanation, the height or level of theink contained in the reservoir. The space 0 above this level of the inkof course contains air; but there is no direct atmospheric pressure inthis space. As the upper end of the tube 7c is open to the exterior air,atmospheric pressure is present within the tube, and at its lower endthere is an airpressure which is in balance with the airpressure at thesame level of the pen-dip opening (Z. This balance or equilibrium ofpressure maintains a constant level of a small quantity of ink at thesaid exposed opening (Z. When ink is removed from this opening by thepen, this level is momentarily destroyed or disturbed, and sufficientair will thereupon enter the tube It and discharge from its lower endinto the ink-reservoir A and thence rise in a bubble at the top space incommunication with the latter and said small side chamber having a topopening exposed to the atmosphere; the liquid1eser voir having anair-inlet passage whose upper end opens to the atmosphere through thetop of said reservoir and from said top extends. downward of uniformsize within the reservoir and having at its lower end an opening of samesize as the cross-sectional area of the passage and terminating on alevel with the said small chamber-opening exposed to the atmosphere.

2. An ink-well having in combination a liquid-reservoir, A; a pen-dipchamber, B, at the side and. base of the said reservoir with its bottomin communication with the latter by a passage and having a top openingexposed to the atmosphere; a removable airinlet tube, Z", secured to thetop of the reservoir and depending downward within the reservoir withits lower end fully open on a level with the atmospheric opening of saidpen-dip chamber and having at its upper end an opening to the atmospherewhich opening is relatively smaller than said lower end opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. RIDDICK, JR.

Witnesses W. F. GORDON, J. W. BLANTON, Jr.

